Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a video message on X following his meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Tuesday, in which he evaluated the outcomes of their discussions.
Zelenskyy emphasized that Orbán’s visit coincides with the start of Hungary’s EU presidency, underscoring the significance of unity in Europe regarding the war in Ukraine, and the necessity of taking collective action. He mentioned that they had discussed the path toward a just, lasting, and fair peace, and expressed gratitude to Hungary for supporting the final communiqué of the Peace Summit organized in Switzerland in June. ‘I shared our achievements with our partners between the summits as we prepare for the second Peace Summit. We have made significant progress, and there will be more to come. I invited Hungary and Prime Minister Orbán to join these efforts,’ Zelenskyy added.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s visit to Ukraine is the first in many years and during the war. Notably, it comes right after Hungary assumed the EU presidency. This is a clear signal to all of us of the importance of unity in Europe and taking collective steps.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 2, 2024
We discussed the… pic.twitter.com/U8yDSJnNTQ
As reported by Hungarian Conservative, Orbán asked Zelenskyy on Tuesday to consider a possible time-bound ceasefire with Russia to expedite peace talks. The Ukrainian president did not share any new information on this matter in his post, but
according to Kyiv Independent, Zelenskyy rejected the proposal.
Speaking on national television, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Ihor Zhovkva stated that during meetings in the capital, Orbán was given the ‘opportunity to express his thoughts.’ Zhovkva added: ‘The President of Ukraine listened to him, but in response, he reiterated Ukraine’s position—clear, understandable, and well-known.’
A New Era of Hungarian–Ukrainian Relations?
Another central topic of the meeting was the bilateral relations between Hungary and Ukraine, which have steadily deteriorated over the past decade, partly due to the disenfranchisement of the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia. In the video message, the Ukrainian president said: ‘We also have positive bilateral results. Overall, we see that these are now
completely different relations between Ukraine and Hungary—more concrete and transparent, reflecting mutual interests.’
According to Zelenskyy, a number of economic and political details have been agreed upon and will soon be outlined in an agreement on good neighbourly relations between Hungary and Ukraine.
Orbán said on Tuesday that Hungary seeks to conclude a comprehensive cooperation agreement with Ukraine, similar to those it has already established with other neighbouring countries.
A Threat from Azov
Orbán’s proposal for a ceasefire has—unsurprisingly—provoked a significant outcry from Ukraine’s militarized far-right. Leader of the neo-Nazi Azov battalion Bohdan Krotevych issued a quasi-threat to Zelenskyy in his post on X. ‘No peace without victory. We will not leave this war to our successors, and neither will you, because if you try, it will not end well,’ Krotevych wrote.
Ніякого миру без перемоги. Перемога одна- жодного російського солдата на території України . Нащадкам ми цю війну не лишимо, і ви теж не лишите, бо якщо спробуєте , буде погано. І вам і ним . Якщо це «пробивон», навіть не думайте.
— Bohdan Krotevych (@BohdanKrotevych) June 30, 2024
Написав стримано.
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